Penang Wanita MCA chief Tan Cheng Liang said the state government’s own state executive council lineup had only one woman elected representative.

“The appointment of Padang Lalang state assemblyman Chong Eng into an all-male state exco member lineup was merely to fulfil the promise of having a token woman representation in the state,” she said.

Tan added that before criticising the Barisan Nasional government, DAP should take a good look at itself and its own internal problems first.

“In their own party polls last year, there was also a clear ratio of an imbalance between their men and women leaders.

“Wanita DAP (in reality) can only elect their own leaders after 40 years,” Tan, who is also the state Barisan publicity chief, said.

She said despite the party being founded in 1972, last year’s central executive committee election was the first time that the DAP women’s wing was able to vote in their own leaders.

“This is sad indeed and it exposes DAP’s poor representation of women,” she stressed.

- The Star -

They are Tualang Sekah assemblyman Nolee Ashilin Mohd Radzi, Datuk Rusnah Kassim (Behrang), Datuk Samsudin Abu Hassan (Ayer Kuning), Mohd Nizar Zakaria (Belanja), Datuk Shahrul Zaman Yahya (Rungkup) and Dr Muhammad Amin Zakaria (Batu Kurau).

They received their letters of appointment from Raja Muda of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah at Istana Iskandariah here yesterday.

Datuk Saarani Mohamad (Kota Tampan), Datuk Zainol Fadzi Paharuddin (Sungai Manik) and Datuk Mohd Zahir Abdul Khalid (Kamunting) were re-appointed.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said the executive council members would be evaluated annually on their performances.

He said this was the instruction of Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah, and each member would be sworn in again after a year.

The executive council members took their oath of office in front of the Raja Muda and Raja Puan Besar Tuanku Zara Salim.

Dr Zambry said a spot had been reserved in the executive council for MCA’s sole state assemblyman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon (Chenderiang).

- The Star -

All ears: Supporters at the Esplanade for the Pakatan’s thanksgiving ceramah in Penang.

Thousands of Pakatan Rakyat supporters turned up for a thanksgiving ceramah organised by the state government at the Esplanade last night despite the police not approving the permit for it.

The supporters, mostly clad in black attire, arrived as early as 6pm for the event which started at about 8pm.

Among those who spoke at the event themed “One Person, One Vote, Same Democracy” were DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and state DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow.

They thanked the voters in Penang for giving their support to Pakatan candidates in the general election.

Some 50 police officers were at the scene and surrounding areas to ensure peace and direct traffic.

It was earlier reported that the organisers had applied for a police permit for the event under the name of Pakatan, but the police rejected the application on grounds that the organiser failed to comply with certain requirements, such as the 10-day prior notice.

The state government then notified the police on Friday that the event was an official state function and was not being organised by Pakatan.

Earlier yesterday, DAP national chairman Karpal Singh said the event did not require a permit as it was a government function and the state had the right to organise it at the Esplanade, which is under the jurisdiction of the Penang Municipal Council.

- The Star -

Mentri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Tun Mahathir said this followed complaints from villagers that logging activities in their areas had affected the supply and quality of water.

“Logging activities in the state will be temporarily ceased to enable us to conduct the environmental impact assessment (EIA) in areas involved.

“They will resume upon the EIA’s recommendations,” he said at a thanksgiving reception at Seri Mentaloon, the menteri besar’s official residence, here yesterday.

Mukhriz said he wanted to ensure that loggers abide by the conditions imposed on logging activities.

“If there is any valid complaint, backed by concrete evidence that the conditions are not complied with, I will not hesitate to stop the logging activity immediately.

“I want all logging concessions given to be reviewed. We want to ensure the people’s interest comes first. In future, as far as possible, I will not approve any more logging concession.

“I think we have enough logging activities in the state. We have to find other sources of income for Kedah.

“To me, a tree is worth more standing than felled. There are potentials and opportunities for tourism and other industries (to grow),” he added.

Regarding the controversial state-owned Insaniah University Collage (Kuin), Mukhriz said he had met their top management, including rector Prof Dr Jamil Osman, over the problems faced by the institution.

The mentri besar said state Education, Transport and Works committee chairman Datuk Tajul Urus Mat Zain would look into Kuin’s problems and report on a new direction for Kuin.

“We will talk to other parties involved. Most importantly, we will safeguard the welfare of Kuin’s students and staff first before that of the management,” he said. 

 - Bernama -

Datuk Hasan Malek

The Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Ministry will continue subsidising food and general goods to deal with the increasing cost of living.

Its minister Datuk Hasan Malek said the Government would maintain subsidies and increase the number of Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (KR1M) and Menu Rakyat 1Malaysia to compensate for the increasing consumer price index (CPI), which rose by 1.6% in the first three months of this year.

The Statistics Department reported that the increase in the CPI was primarily driven by the index for food and non-alcoholic beverages for the January-March period, which showed an increase of 2.9% compared with the same period last year. The ministry has been allocated RM103.5mil to open more KR1M stores, with 90 new locations planned 57 of which would be opened in Sabah and Sarawak.

“I urge retailers to maintain their prices. Don’t just think of your own profits, national interest comes first,” Hasan said after launching Buy Malaysia Products Expo 2013 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

He also told the Opposition to prove claims that there had been a price increase in essential items after the general election.

He said efforts to encourage sales of domestic products would also help normalise the costs of everyday goods and have a multiplying effect in improving the local economy. Hasan also said the ministry did not approve of a call by an Islamic NGO to boycott Malaysian Chinese shops and companies.

“The Government is concerned for all communities. Boycotting one group would not be in the interest of anyone,” he added.

It was reported that the Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia urged the Malay community to boycott Chinese shops and companies, claiming that those companies had funded the Opposition’s campaign in the 13th general election.

- The Star -

Karpal Singh

DAP national chairman Karpal Singh said the Senate should be abolished as it does not serve any purpose.

The Bukit Gelugor MP said having the Dewan Rakyat was good enough.

“The Federal constitution should be amended to abolish the Dewan Negara.

“A unicameral parliament, with a single legislative chamber, as is the position in Singapore, would be best suited in the public interest,” he told a press conference here yesterday.

“The Dewan Rakyat is supreme as it comprises members directly elected by the people and, therefore, stands on high moral ground,” he said.

He added that the Senate only encourages those who have been rejected by the people or others to be brought into Parliament through the “back door”.

He cited the inclusion of Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar, Datuk Seri Idris Jala, Datuk Paul Low Seng Kuan, P. Waythamoorthy, Datuk Dr Loga Bala Mohan Jaganathan and Datuk Paduka Ahmad Bashar Md Hanipah in the new Cabinet of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

“Any Cabinet worth its name must, of necessity, include personalities of integrity and high public standing and that assessment can only be brought through direct election by the people and not by appointment,” said Karpal.

The Dewan Negara currently consists of 70 Senators.

- The Star -

Tee’s appointment, said Khaled, was also not due to MCA bowing to pressure from Umno but was made according to the Johor Sultan’s wish to have a Chinese representative in the state exco line-up.

“There is no question of subservience. MCA only followed the decision made by the Ruler. Tee’s decision in accepting the appointment was made out of respect for the Johor Sultan.

“The formation of the Barisan Nasional state government is based upon consensus among the various races in Johor,” he said after launching the state-level Teacher’s Day celebration at Pusat Islam Iskandar here yesterday.

On May 16, Perak DAP chairman Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham had claimed on Twitter that by accepting the post, MCA was being “subservient to Umno and now, subservient to the Sultan”.

Ngeh also tweeted that MCA could not make any stand on its own and questioned how the party would be able to represent the people.

Tee found himself in a tough spot after MCA announced that action might be taken against him for going against the party’s decision to turn down government positions following its poor performance in the recent general election.

However, the Pulai Sebatang assemblyman, who was put in charge of the Tourism, Domestic Trade and Consumerism portfolio, had since said that he was prepared to face the music.

The Sultan, under the Johor state constitution, has absolute power to appoint the Mentri Besar together with the exco members.

- The Star -

Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal

Getting down to the exact needs of each and every one of the over 25,000 villages spread out across the country is a key target for Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal (pic), who kickstarts his second term at the helm of the ministry.

Shafie, who clocked in for his first day of work yesterday following his reappointment to the Cabinet, said it was vital for the ministry to engage with community leaders to fully understand what villages needed.

“Engagement is important because the needs are different for the 25,000 different villages … some focus on sundry shops and others on agriculture, so we are going to look at what is needed to fulfil their needs.”

Shafie said the ministry would focus more on developing rural youths, with plans to work with the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry and the Youth and Sports ministries to tackle the long-standing issue of rural to urban migration.

He said this had much to do with developing basic infrastructure in rural areas, which in turn helped develop economic activity and job opportunities so that youths would not need to move to the city to find work.

- The Star -

The bald patch on top of the hill is clearly visible in Gelugor.

The clearing of a hill in Bukit Gambier, Gelugor, which is visible from the Penang Bridge, is illegal.

The state government has direc­ted the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) to act against those responsible immediately, State Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said.

“I’ve checked with (State Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Miti­gation Committee chairman) Chow Kon Yeow and he has confirmed that the ongoing works are illegal.”

“He said no approval was given by the relevant authorities,” said Seri Delima assemblyman R.S.N. Rayer yesterday.

Rayer said he would call for a press conference on the matter today.

Last week, Sahabat Alam Malaysia sent a letter to the MPPP to request details of the clearing activities on the hill.

Its president S.M. Mohd Idris said that to date, there had been no response from the council.

“I believe the hill is called Bukit Rumania.

“We were alerted by the public and immediately went to the site to take some photographs and find out what’s going on.

“We then wrote to the council enquiring about whether planning permission had been given, whether the clearing was being done on state or private land and if an Envi­ronmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report was conducted before the land was cleared,” he said.

“We demand an explanation,” he said, adding that a reminder letter was sent to the council yesterday.

He said that there seems to be a violation of the hillslope development guidelines and wants to know why the council has been silent on the matter.

On Tuesday, Rayer, in a press conference, had urged the MPPP, state Forestry Department and Northeast District Office to investigate the hill clearing after he was informed by residents.

He said it “looked like” a development project was taking place and it had caused a lot of damage to the environment.

On Monday, Malaysian Nature Society Penang branch adviser D. Kanda Kumar said two of its members hiked up to the site.

However, they found no signboard indicating who the developer was or whether the authorities had given the necessary approval for the hill to be cleared.

Four photos of the site taken on April 13, 21 and 26, and May 6 have been posted and shared on Facebook.

- The Star -

Datuk Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah

Police aim to reduce the crime rate even further, especially in the Klang Valley through various efforts, including better engagement with the people through community policing programmes and increased use of the Internet and social media.

Selangor police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah (pic) said police managed to reduce the crime rate in the state by 8.3% last year with 40,629 cases recorded compared with 44,302 cases in 2011.

“It represented a drop of 3,673 cases. The decline in crime is due to a number of successful programmes based on working with the community,” he said yesterday.

DCP Tun Hisan said the force also worked on having strategic police presence to prevent and combat crime.

“We have programmes like Ops Payung, Com-munity Policing, Vertical Policing, Campus Policing and motorcycle patrol units.

“These approaches provide better police presence and also allow the public easy access to the force,” he said.

DCP Tun Hisan said that the Ops Payung is an improved version of the original umbrella beat bases. Policemen are stationed at specific crime prone locations to keep criminals at bay.

“Community policing programmes in Gasing Indah, Kinrara and Sungai Way have been a tremendous help in our bid to reduce the crime rate in the areas.

“Public order and security is our priority.

“We are focused on reducing the crime rate further this year,” he said.

It has been reported that the crime index for the country dipped 7.6% in 2012, with 153,811 cases recorded compared with 166,295 in 2011 – a drop of 12,484 cases.

The National Key Result Area for crime also recorded a 27% decline in the crime rate from 2009 to 2012, compared with a 33% increase between 2004 and 2008.

- The Star -